Committee weighs dock, lighting and safety upgrades at Alpena marina

Committee members discussed a range of infrastructure and safety needs at the marina, including replacing bent lamp posts, standardizing lighting, installing solar-cap spud markers on new docks and locating missing spuds on older docks for repair.

Staff proposed replacing tall overhead lamp posts on Prentiss Street and along docks and noted insurance- and safety-related reasons to standardize lighting across the marina. Members suggested flush-mounted fixtures or relocating some posts a few feet to reduce vehicle collisions, and asked that lights be stylistically consistent with downtown fixtures.

For docks, staff said they plan to order solar-cap PVC spud caps for visibility and to reduce insect attraction; they also noted DBW did not have time this winter to recover missing spuds and that funding must be secured to replace or locate older spuds. Members described some docks as wobbly and a potential safety hazard and urged staff to include dock spud replacement in the capital plan and to coordinate diving support to find old spuds.

Staff confirmed rail painting will be completed this year with help from a local group and said personnel funds are being reallocated to pay for contracted work.